“The Lost Shtetl” – Opens in Šeduva

On September 20, the Šeduva Jewish History Museum “Lost Shtetl” will officially open its doors. As the largest museum in the Baltics dedicated to shtetl culture and history, it will offer free admission during its first year, allowing visitors to explore the exhibits, take guided tours, and participate in educational activities. Next to the museum, guests will also find the newly unveiled Memory Park – a striking living memorial designed by Italian landscape architects Enea Landscape Architecture, honoring the memory of Šeduva’s once-vibrant Jewish community.

“The museum’s opening to the public and its first visitors mark the culmination of a long and collaborative journey involving hundreds of individuals – experts, creatives, and historians from Lithuania, the United States, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, and Switzerland. On behalf of the entire team, I want to thank everyone of – each contribution that has helped reconstruct the lost shtetl of Šeduva, restoring the faces and names of a community that once lived here and was tragically destroyed. This is the core mission of the museum – and I hope every visitor leaves carrying at least one name, one story of someone who once lived here. May these names never be forgotten again,” says Jonas Dovydaitis, Director of The Lost Shtetl museum.

A Decade-Long Project of Remembrance

The creation of this museum dedicated to preserving shtetl culture and memory has spanned over a decade. The idea was developed and realized by an international team of historians, architects, and Jewish cultural experts.

Innovative curatorial solutions were harmonized with the architectural vision of renowned Finnish architect Rainer Mahlamäki. The museum structure resembles a small town, its rooftops visible from afar across the flat Lithuanian landscape. While architecturally unified, the museum encompasses a series of distinct exhibition halls beneath the gabled roofs of “individual houses,” each designed to house a specific part of the exhibition.

The exhibition design was created by Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), a U.S.-based firm known for designing the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. For this project, the RAA team drew inspiration from Grigory Kanovich’s novel “Shtetl Love Song,” which tells the story of another lost shtetl – Jonava.

A Walk Through a Town That No Longer Exists

The word “shtetl” is rarely heard today, yet over 200 shtetls once dotted the Lithuanian landscape just over 80 years ago. Derived from Yiddish, the word means “small town” – and it is how Jews referred to their local communities. These were not separate enclaves but the same towns and villages also inhabited by Lithuanians.

“For centuries, Lithuanians and Jews lived side by side in these towns – but the Holocaust obliterated Lithuania’s Jewish population. With their destruction, the shtetl disappeared as well,” says Sandra Petrukonytė, the museum’s Chief Curator.

According to her, the museum’s very name – The Lost Shtetl – encapsulates its essence: it tells the story of what no longer exists. “You cannot recount the history of the Šeduva shtetl without speaking of how the Jewish community that lived here was annihilated.”

The museum's exhibition spans ten galleries, beginning with an introductory film tracing the arrival of Jews to the territory of present-day Lithuania and their life here until World War I.

“We want visitors to understand from the outset that Jews lived alongside Lithuanians for centuries – arriving in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century, settling near estates and in towns at the invitation of nobles, engaging in trade, crafts, and tax administration. Over time, a unique shtetl civilization emerged – stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea – made up of thousands of small towns where Jewish communities spoke Yiddish, practiced Judaism, and lived according to the Talmud. Yet they were never isolated – always living alongside Lithuanians, Poles, Latvians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians,” explains Petrukonytė.

A Journey into Interwar Šeduva

The main part of the exhibition focuses on the interwar period, World War II, and its aftermath. Visitors are invited to explore the Šeduva shtetl of that era. Through immersive displays, the community of interwar Šeduva comes alive. The largest gallery recreates the town’s Market Square – not just a commercial hub, but a space for civic and cultural life.

“Visitors to The Lost Shtetl are invited on a journey through time – stepping into a version of interwar Šeduva where Jews and Lithuanians lived side by side. We encourage visitors to discover the Jewish community of Šeduva, learn about its religious and social life, migration stories, professions, and aspirations,” says Petrukonytė.

She emphasizes that the exhibition explores universal human themes – the search for safety, a better life for one’s family, dreams, ambitions, and even leisure choices.

“In the vibrant Market Square, our first story is about life – and I believe life in Šeduva was rich and colourful. We hope visitors encounter the individuals presented in the exhibition as intriguing companions, kindred spirits, or even potential friends – to dream with them, create with them, love with them,” she adds.

The Darker Chapter of the Narrative

But the life of Šeduva, like that of all of Lithuania, was irreversibly altered by Soviet occupation and the Nazi invasion that followed. In the summer of 1941, Šeduva’s Jewish community was forced into a temporary labor camp. On August 25–26, Nazi forces and local collaborators murdered 664 men, women, and children in the Liaudiškiai Forest, just a few kilometers from Šeduva – nearly the entire Jewish population of the town.

“The Holocaust is the darkest part of the narrative – one we cannot skip over or sugarcoat. We’ve worked with historians to present the facts, leaving space for visitors to draw their own conclusions. The exhibition includes historical photos, documents, eyewitness testimonies, and silent witnesses – four WWII-era shell casings found during the 2015 restoration of the Liaudiškiai mass grave site,” says Petrukonytė.

She stresses that original historical artifacts form the foundation of the museum – many donated or loaned by descendants of Šeduva’s Jews, institutions, and other museums. Yet, modern technology and interactive features are also used. Each gallery has its own soundscape – some even feature unique scents or changes in temperature. Stories unfold on screens through video and audio. One of the most powerful experiences awaits in the “People of the Book” gallery, which resembles a synagogue and features an immersive installation showcasing Judaic symbols and sounds.

Storytelling Through Film

Some stories are told through the language of cinema. The museum commissioned a series of documentary re-enactment films that chronicle the life of a Jewish family from Šeduva. The opening film is narrated in Lithuanian by actress Jovita Jankelaitytė and in English by renowned Jewish-American actor Liev Schreiber, whose family hails from Ukraine. The films were directed by Roberta Grossman, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“We are honored to have Roberta Grossman involved. Her films bring the shtetl of Šeduva to life, centering on characters inspired by real historical figures. Through these films, visitors follow the full life story of Paja-Chaja and her daughter Frida, experiencing the milestones of a Jewish family’s life – a story that, sadly, ends with the Holocaust,” Petrukonytė shares.

Paja-Chaja serves as the guiding thread through the 20th-century story of Šeduva’s shtetl. She is instantly recognizable by her bright red headscarf: “Just like the girl in the red coat in Schindler’s List, Paja-Chaja is not faceless or nameless. She symbolizes the truth that every Holocaust victim had a name, a family, and dreams. And we tell at least some of their stories here.”

Voices That Bring the Stories to Life

Visitors who prefer to explore the museum independently can use free audio guides. The general audio guide, narrated by actors Paulius Markevičius and Vesta Šumilovaitė-Tertelienė, presents the museum’s story through select exhibits. Two artistic audio guides offer a more intimate perspective, inspired by the real lives of Šeduva Jews.

“The audio guides were inspired by local residents – pharmacist Nochum Berman and Shula Nol, the wife of a fabric merchant. Using historical records and family stories, we retraced their steps through Šeduva to view history through their eyes – to believe, dream, and love. The Lithuanian versions are voiced by acclaimed film and theatre actors Rasa Samuolytė and Laurynas Jurgelis,” Petrukonytė explains.

The museum also provides an audio guide tailored for visitors with visual impairments and includes various tools and supports for guests with special needs.

“The museum features tactile maps and exhibits, allowing everyone to experience the museum in the most meaningful way for them. The space is wheelchair accessible, and for visitors sensitive to stimuli, sound and light installations can be dimmed upon request. From the outset, accessibility has been a central part of our mission,” notes Petrukonytė.

Visitor Information

The Lost Shtetl Museum reminds guests that the museum has a limited visitor capacity at any given time. To plan your visit, please reserve a free ticket in advance for individual or group visits. The museum opens to the public on September 20.

More information is available at www.lostshtetl.com or by phone at +370 628 01 742 (Museum Information Center).